Hooper promises more goals

RED-HOT Gary Hooper is in the form of his life but the Celtic hitman claims his best is still to come.

The striker, who has been backed by boss Neil Lennon for an England call, has netted an impressive seven goals in his last five games to help the Hoops make their mark in the SPL, Champions League and League Cup.

The former Scunthorpe forward is scoring goals for fun and aims to add to his tally by extending Celtic’s lead at the top of the table with a weekend win over St Mirren.

“I don’t think you can say you’re at the top of your game as you can always learn and improve – you can probably

say I’m in the form of my life when I’ve scored six goals!

Scoring goals is a bonus but that’s also my job as well

Gary Hooper

“There is more to come. I have scored three, four and five in one game, so the next target has to be six now!

“However, the main thing is playing well for the team, helping them and winning the game.”

The 24-year-old claimed the highlight of his recent scoring heroics was his goal in the 3-2 Champions League win over Spartak Moscow in Russia.

He admitted that topped the lot including his previous successes and his play-off appearances with Celtic and Scunthorpe.

“The Champions League topped it off,” the striker admitted. “That was the top of my whole career, scoring and winning away in Moscow.

“It was a tough game. They were a good, strong team and good on the ball, but I thought we stepped it up a level compared to the SPL. I felt that was the best trip so far. “That game and scoring in the Champions League was a dream come true for me.

“It was up there with winning the league, cups and the play-off final, but I think it topped it all off.”

The Englishman knows he is in the team to find the net and he relies on his team mates to provide the ammunition.

Hooper had admitted that Celtic’s recent success has very much been down to the team ethic installed by boss Neil Lennon.

“Scoring goals is a bonus but that’s also my job as well,” added Hooper.

“The whole team is playing well just now. We are creating enough chances to score quite a few goals and the job of the strikers is to score them and we’ve been doing that well over the past few weeks.”

It has hardly been a surprise to see Hooper at the top of the scoring charts.

He has been regularly among the top scorers in his three seasons at Celtic Park.

Things now look back on track after a rather slow start to the season – going by his own impeccable standards.

He netted just once in his first nine games but since then he hasn’t looked back.

“I have just been taking my chances now,” said Hooper. “We’re creating more now and it’s up to the strikers and some of the midfielders to score.

“We did that against Dundee, Raith, Motherwell and Spartak – when we scored away goals away from home and I thought that was unreal to get three goals there and win the match.